Summary & Overview
CPT 83070: Urine Hemosiderin Detection, Laboratory Test
CPT code 83070 designates a laboratory test for detecting hemosiderin, most commonly performed on urine, to identify intravascular hemolysis. The test is clinically significant because the presence of hemosiderin in urine is an abnormal finding that supports diagnoses involving red blood cell destruction and may prompt further hematologic and renal evaluation. Nationally, this code is used in hospital and clinical laboratory settings where urine microscopy and special staining techniques are available.
Key payers in the coverage landscape include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context, typical service settings, and the billing code’s role in diagnostic workflows. The publication provides benchmarking and policy-oriented material where available, including payer coverage considerations and common billing modifiers when applicable. It also outlines expected use cases and how the test integrates with related laboratory evaluations.
This summary targets clinicians, laboratory managers, and billing professionals seeking a clear, national-level understanding of CPT code 83070, its clinical indications, and where it fits in diagnostic pathways. Data not available in the input is noted explicitly in relevant sections.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 83070 describes a laboratory test that detects hemosiderin in a patient specimen, most commonly a urine sample. Hemosiderin in urine is not a normal finding and typically indicates intravascular hemolysis or a related red blood cell breakdown process.
Service type: Laboratory diagnostic test
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory (urine specimen analysis)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 48-year-old patient presents to the emergency department with dark urine, fatigue, pallor, and a recent history of jaundice. The emergency clinician orders a urinalysis and specific testing for urinary hemosiderin to evaluate for intravascular hemolysis after initial laboratory results show a falling hemoglobin and elevated lactate dehydrogenase. A urine specimen is collected and sent to the clinical laboratory. The laboratory technologist performs the hemosiderin test (urine) using Prussian blue staining or an equivalent assay. Results are reported in the electronic medical record and communicated to the ordering clinician, who correlates the finding with peripheral smear, direct antiglobulin test, and other hemolysis markers to determine etiology and next steps in management. Typical sites of service include hospital inpatient laboratory, emergency department laboratory, and outpatient hospital-based or independent clinical laboratories.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when reporting only the professional interpretation component if applicable to a split-billed lab test in settings that separate technical and professional components. |
TC | Technical component |